Dan Barnes' article in the Edmonton Journal this morning gives us yet another depressing update/non-update on the Dany Heatley situation.

According to Barnes' source, the Oilers have no deadline for a resolution to the Heatley situation, and they haven't given a deadline to the Ottawa Senators or Dany Heatley, either. According to Barnes, Heatley's camp wants at least two other options, and while Murray is negotiating with two other NHL teams there's no particular reason for those teams to be in much of a hurry to acquire the Senators forward.

Meanwhile, Heatley himself remains ensconced in his summer home (see video above), comfortably removed from both the situation and the beating his reputation is taking in the media.

Other than that, the situation remains at a standstill, as do the Oilers. In fact, if the season started tomorrow the only roster changes to the team would be swapping out Ales Kotalik, Kyle Brodziak, and Dwayne Roloson while adding Nikolai Khabibulin - not the sort of forward movement fans were expecting from G.M. Steve Tambellini.

There haven't even been much in the way of rumours of other movement, beyond an ill-advised attempt to overpay Senators fourth-liner (and Heatley critic) Chris Neil on a multi-year contract.

Last season, Steve Tambellini made some good moves (notably the Erik Cole trade), but for much of the season stood pat evaluating while the Oilers struggled. He's gotten largely a free pass for that; after all, it wasn't clear if he, Lowe, or Daryl Katz were in control of ths situation. He doesn't deserve and he certainly won't get a similar free pass if he fails to make substantial moves this summer. Hopefully, the situation won't come to that.

Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet, the Edmonton Journal and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

Hey Robin, you’ve gotten a bit more chippy lately. I hope it’s just some of the comments here that have you riled up and not anything closer to home.
Cheers

I appreciate the sentiment, but it's nothing more than what you suggest. Stupidity -- like assuming nobody else wants Heatley updates just because you don't, or telling writers here to WAKE UP, when I think we've shown we've got our eyes wide open -- just irks me.

For dimwits who don't get it: If you see an item and you don't want to read it, don't read it. That's your right. If you think ON is a crappy website with nothing to offer, then don't visit. You're wrong, but it's your right to be mistaken.
But for crying out loud, don't be that guy who comes around and pisses and moans like a little girl. Don't be that guy who whines and snivels or, worse, just writes something stupid to get a reaction.

I really don't know why people are so hung up on the fact the Oilers havent stated they are pulling out of the Heatley deal.
I look at it like this. The Oilers leave their name in the running and mean while work the phones trying to land another first line LW while waiting for Heatley to make up his mind.
Heatley has never said a negative word about Edmonton or the Oilers so it is not like he said no and the Oilers are begging him to come here.
Heatley said he wont lift his nmc and the Oiler brass said ok we understand this is the benefits of playing for us and we will leave our offer there if you decide you want to join us.
People that is not so bad! Companies extend offers everyday that potential employees need to think about before accepting and really Dany can take until September to think about it because that is when training camp starts.
I think the Sestito trade shows the Oilers are working the phones and I really think Tamby is going to enquire about any potential 1st line LW that other teams have and move on it as long as it is not too expensive and fits our cap situation.
We need to remember we are in cap hell and if Tamby grabs a ufa and puts us right up against the cap ceiling any deal from that point is done from a position of weakness.
Slow and steady wins the race.

It's time for the Oilers to fill the other holes in the line-up and forget about Dany Heatley, people say he isn't slighting the Oilers because he hasn't said no but in reality everyday he had a chance to waive his NMC and end all this crap. We might need a first line lw but this isn't the guy.

I think if anything San Jose would be a good option for both clubs (and Heatly for that matter) to attempt a three way deal (which I know would be hard to pull off). Would this work?
Ott: Penner, Cogs, D.Murray
SJ: Heatley, Pisani, Smid
Edm: Marleau, Cheechoo, Schubert, and a PICK (fr Ott or SJ)

That's a lot of talent to give up from the Oilers stand point I know but at the same time cap space (Marleau contract), roster spots (4out 3in), and the potential for a grittier/higher scoring roster (i.e. Cheechoo over Pisani on the 3rd line). Couple that with a Malholtra type signing and you have a pretty complete roster for 09/10.

You know, you make a good point. There is absolutely nothing stating that the Oilers need to have their final roster nailed down by the time the season starts. Perhaps that's their plan; to leave a couple of spots open and see how they're doing before spending big money. Obviously, doing that with goaltending is a huge risk so I get why they got Khabibulin.

I'm partly jealous of the Flames because they appear to have a stacked team, but what happens if Bouwmeester turns out to be just another Southleast warrior? What if Phaneuf gets a head injury trying to make change for a twenty? All of a sudden they're stuck with lousy or hurt players and no space to replace them.

Really though, win or lose I just want the Oilers to regain an identity, any identity.

@ HOFFFF
Totally agree, I can't see Tambellini hanging in this for so long if he knew there was no chance, he probably knows the awkward position Cogs is in, no so much Smid and Penner, seeing Penner probably wouldn't mind a change of scenery, and Smid might increase his minutes. Hockey is a business but leaving a young prospect like Cogs in limbo like he is could damage his confidence somewhat if he is sill an oiler coming into the new season feeling expendible. But why does Heatley want more options if he is still considering Edmonton? Unless the other options are Colorado or Phoenix, I can see him going anywhere but Edmonton..

I really don’t know why people are so hung up on the fact the Oilers havent stated they are pulling out of the Heatley deal.
I look at it like this. The Oilers leave their name in the running and mean while work the phones trying to land another first line LW while waiting for Heatley to make up his mind.
Heatley has never said a negative word about Edmonton or the Oilers so it is not like he said no and the Oilers are begging him to come here.
Heatley said he wont lift his nmc and the Oiler brass said ok we understand this is the benefits of playing for us and we will leave our offer there if you decide you want to join us.
People that is not so bad! Companies extend offers everyday that potential employees need to think about before accepting and really Dany can take until September to think about it because that is when training camp starts.
I think the Sestito trade shows the Oilers are working the phones and I really think Tamby is going to enquire about any potential 1st line LW that other teams have and move on it as long as it is not too expensive and fits our cap situation.
We need to remember we are in cap hell and if Tamby grabs a ufa and puts us right up against the cap ceiling any deal from that point is done from a position of weakness.
Slow and steady wins the race.

What do you say to Cogliano, Smid and Penner in the meantime?? Yeah it's a business but could this not feed into the perception by some that Oilers treat players at times poorly?

What do you say to Cogliano, Smid and Penner in the meantime?? Yeah it’s a business but could this not feed into the perception by some that Oilers treat players at times poorly?

Put Cogliano in the GM spot and he'd make the same decision. Either he has figured this out on his own or his agent has explained it to him.

Has anyone in the media talked to him? You can't tell me that, as a Toronto boy, he wouldn't love to play against the Leaf's 6 times a year so that family can come to the game. As much as he might like his house-mates, I'd bet he's as much for this trade as the Oilers management is.

Has anyone in the media talked to him? You can’t tell me that, as a Toronto boy, he wouldn’t love to play against the Leaf’s 6 times a year so that family can come to the game. As much as he might like his house-mates, I’d bet he’s as much for this trade as the Oilers management is.

would you expect gagner to say anything else?
these guys arent (all) idiots. can you imagine the wrath of the jilted oiler fans if gagner said something to the effect of “he(cogliano) would have preferred to play in ottawa”?
99% of what these guys say is the same old cliche BS…

Either way, all I'm saying is that playing in Ontario isn't exactly like being shipped to Siberia. Even if he'd prefer to play in Edmonton, he's probably not against a trade to a team much closer to home.

I think the fact that Edmonton is waiting for Heatley to make up his mind is worse than Heatley not waiving his no trade clause,we should not have gone down to Kelowna on one knee begging and we should have basically told both Heatley and his agent take it or leave it.I am tired of this organization chasing the big dream, get players who want to be here and they will have success,if you are trying to convince someone to come and give it a try, what are the odds of Heatley staying more than one year knowing his track record? This does more harm to our image around the league than telling him it is your loss for not wanting to play in Edmonton.